The Medici Family the Medici Family Patrons of the Arts
If it weren't for the Medici family, some of our favorite Renaissance artists would have died of starvation and even worse, in obscurity. Some of them did, but the Medicis saved equally many of them equally they could. They didn't desire to exist heroes, they wanted to exist rulers. The Medici family were the real OGs and their back story is certain to convince anyone.
The family moved to Florence old in the 12th century. They must've grown tired of the village life in Cafaggiolo. The large fish in the small pond eventually gets bored of the small pond. At present, I have no idea if the Medicis were the large fish of Cafaggiolo, but they grew a fair amount later the big move. Within the century, in 1397, Giovanni Medici had established the nearly popular bank in Florence. I guess big fish can make it rain.
Cosimo or Cosimo the Elderberry was Giovanni's son. He initiated the unofficial rule of Florence and crowned himself king. His kid, Piero could intendance less near cyberbanking. He just wanted to be a ruler. Unfortunately, there were mode likewise many people who'd do anything to stop that from happening. Piero walked a fine line and managed to die of natural causes. His son, Guiliano, wasn't that lucky.
Lorenzo and Guiliano patronized the arts, simply like their begetter, when they started ruling Florence together. Lorenzo made artists like Botticelli, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci. Guiliano was every bit invested in the arts as his brother. Merely, he had to stop in 1478 when he got stabbed at church. Drama! Da Vinci was around when Lorenzo found the last of the conspirators and had them hung at the Bargello. The Italian artist couldn't have asked for a ameliorate reality show, Murder with the Medicis.
Tomb of Giuliano de' Medici past Michelangelo, in the Pushkin Land Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow
Lorenzo named his son Piero. Turns out the Medici family unit is just a succession of Giovannis, Lorenzos, Cosimos, and Pieros. It gets confusing, often. Within a century, there are at least two Medicis with the same name. This Piero nigh cost the family everything. In 1494, the Medicis were forced to abscond Florence, their bank crashed, the people of Florence wanted their heads. Sh*t got real for the fam.
In 1512, they were allowed to render to Florence. But, they no longer had whatsoever sons to take the reins. It was time for Giovanni's brother'due south kids to have a get. Enter Cosimo de Medici.
Perseus with the head of Medusa by Benevenuto Cellini, in Loggia dei Lanzi, Florence
Florence should've been warned, but Cosimo didn't want to take any chances. He got Cellini to build him an 17-ft sculpture of Perseus with Medusa'due south head. It was designed to exist a message to the people, "You denounce the Medici name again, and I will have your head". Cosimo wasn't joking around.
The Presentation of Marie de' Medici'southward Portrait to Henry IV by Peter Paul Rubens, in the Louvre, Paris
The Medici would now take crowns and titles. His kids and their kids would marry into influential families in French republic and England. Rubens painted the angelic introduction of Marie Medici, Cosimo I'south granddaughter, to Henry IV. It'south quite exquisite, isn't information technology? When cherubs tell y'all this woman is the ane, she has got to be the 1. Particularly, if information technology's the woman that has deputed Peter Paul Rubens, no less, to brand the marriage look meliorate than information technology was. Hmmm. I wonder who taught her that.
The family unit plowed through the rough times. E'er getting back up on their feet. However, their resilience would soon wane. The Medicis were out of men and the dynasty was going to crumble any day. The last Grand Duke of Tuscany died in 1737, without a son. That was the finish of the family unit. Florence was upwardly for grabs again.
Source: https://www.sartle.com/blog/post/art-patrons-the-medicis
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